Mastering the Illusion
874 Words
Adriana stood at the edge of the ballroom, her fingers curled tightly around the stem of a champagne flute. The glow of the chandeliers bathed the room in a golden hue, casting long shadows over the polished marble floors. Conversations hummed around her, a blend of laughter, murmured deals, and the occasional clink of crystal.
Marco had abandoned her the moment they arrived, leaving her to navigate the room alone. She wasn’t sure if it was a test or a lesson in survival, but either way, she was on her own.
She exhaled slowly, straightening her shoulders. You can do this.
A voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Miss Calloway, isn’t it?”
Adriana turned, coming face-to-face with an older man in a perfectly tailored suit. His silver hair was combed back, and his sharp eyes flickered with curiosity.
Adriana recognized him instantly—Richard Moretti, one of Marco’s most influential business associates.
She forced a polite smile. “Yes, that’s right.”
He studied her, swirling his whiskey in his glass. “I must admit, I was surprised when Marco announced his engagement. He’s always been… selective.”
Adriana let out a soft laugh, careful to keep it natural. “I suppose I must have done something right, then.”
Richard smirked. “Perhaps.” He took a sip of his drink, then tilted his head. “Tell me, how did you two meet?”
Adriana’s heartbeat quickened. She knew this question would come, but now that it had, she felt the weight of every pair of eyes lingering in her direction.
Then, she remembered Marco’s words. Don’t hesitate. Own the moment.
She let out a wistful sigh, allowing a small, genuine smile to touch her lips. “It was at a charity event. I was helping organize the guest list when Marco arrived. He was late, of course, and completely uninterested in being there. But then we started talking, and… well, one conversation turned into another.”
Richard arched a brow. “And six months later, he proposed?”
Adriana leaned in slightly, as if sharing a secret. “Let’s just say Marco isn’t the kind of man who waits when he knows what he wants.”
Richard chuckled, seemingly satisfied. “Well played, Miss Calloway.”
Adriana’s breath caught.
He knows.
Before she could react, Marco appeared beside her, slipping an arm around her waist with effortless familiarity.
“Richard,” he greeted smoothly. “I see you’ve met my fiancée.”
Richard smirked, lifting his glass. “Oh, she’s quite the storyteller. You’ve trained her well.”
Marco’s grip on her waist tightened just slightly. “She doesn’t need training.”
Adriana swallowed, keeping her expression neutral.
Richard chuckled. “I suppose time will tell.”
And with that, he walked away, leaving a tense silence between them.
Marco turned to her, his dark eyes unreadable. “Not bad,” he murmured. “But you gave away too much.”
Adriana frowned. “I thought I handled it well.”
“You did,” he admitted. “But you let him see you think.”
She clenched her jaw. “So now thinking is a problem?”
Marco smirked, brushing his lips lightly against her ear—a gesture purely for show. “Only when it gives away your nerves.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
She wasn’t sure what was more frustrating—the fact that he was right or the fact that she was starting to feel the role she was playing.
Lesson Two: Convincing Chemistry
The drive back to the penthouse was silent.
Adriana sat beside Marco, staring out at the city lights, her mind replaying every conversation from the evening.
Finally, Marco spoke. “We need to work on our chemistry.”
Adriana turned to him, confused. “What?”
He studied her, fingers tapping idly against his knee. “You did well tonight, but the moment someone questions us, they should see the connection, not just hear about it.”
Adriana folded her arms. “And how exactly do you suggest we do that?”
Marco’s smirk was slow, calculated. “We practice.”
Her pulse spiked. “Practice what, exactly?”
He leaned closer, voice dropping to a quiet murmur. “Touch. Proximity. The way you look at me.”
Adriana swallowed hard. “You’re serious.”
He didn’t blink. “If we can’t convince each other, how do you expect to convince them?”
She hated that he had a point.
Adriana exhaled, nodding stiffly. “Fine. What do I have to do?”
Marco reached for her hand, lifting it gently. “Relax.”
She tried, but the warmth of his skin against hers sent a jolt of awareness through her.
His thumb brushed over her palm, slow and deliberate. “When you touch me, don’t be hesitant. Let it feel natural.”
Adriana inhaled sharply as he guided her hand to his chest, just over his heartbeat.
“Now look at me,” he murmured.
She did.
And for the first time, she realized just how dangerous this game truly was.
Because the longer she held his gaze, the more she felt the lines between illusion and reality begin to blur.
- Writer
